What could these brackets be?

[Denise]

So the last time I went in for an adjustment, my orthodontist had some new brackets on. They were tiny, and ceramic in color (actually almost totally clear). They looked VERY different from the traditional, bulky ceramic brackets that I have. Since I've been going there (four months) he's had three different kinds of brackets on, so I'm not sure if he's just got a new set for each month of the year or what, but I absolutely loved the look of those tiny brackets, they were almost invisible and don't stick out nearly as much as these huge ceramic ones do! Anyone know what these are called??

[Sunny]

I don't know Denise, but my ortho changed his ceramic brackets about two years ago, and the footprint (base) of them is about the same as most metal brackets. They're still the same height off the tooth as the other ceramic and metal brackets ... which of course they need to be, so that he can mix ceramic and metal brackets on the one arch.

Last year we got a new ceramic bracket in to check out, it was very clear ... and looked great against all shades of tooth, due to this. It was the same footprint size as the one we're still currently using (and of which I have one on my upper arch). It wasn't as smooth as the ceramic bracket we use, almost like a tiny wave pattern on it ... but it still looked great. They looked a bit like the radiance bracket, although I think the footprint was smaller. Also like the ice bracket, but I'm not sure if that's what they were called either. There are so many brackets available ... it's quite incredible!

We are looking at getting a new brand of metal brackets ... but are still researching them. They're the same footprint and height as the ceramic and metal brackets we currently use, but have clips instead of ligs. The bracket is shaped so that you can still use ligs and more of the brackets come with standard elastic posts, which the three ortho's I work with see as a positives.